GHMC polls 2020: Union minister Kishan Reddy, Asaduddin Owaisi among early voters to exercise franchise
The voting for Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) polls started on Tuesday (December 1) at 7 AM and will conclude at 6 PM. More than 74 lakh voters will exercise their franchise to decide the political fate of 1,122 candidates in 150 divisions in GHMC. Elaborate arrangements have been made to conduct the polls in a free and fair manner. The mayor's post is reserved for a woman this time. The Telangana State Election Commission (SEC) has made elaborate arrangements for the balloting process by deploying 48,000 (including reserve) polling personnel and 52,500 strong police force. The Commission had decided to conduct the election with ballot papers after obtaining the views of major political parties, Health department in view of COVID-19 and taking into consideration various relevant issues.
In the Hyderabad city commissionerate, 817 new polling stations have been set up as compared to 2016. There are 2,146 normal polling stations, 1,517 sensitive polling stations and 167 hypersensitive polling stations. Till now a total of 4,187 guns were deposited, 3,066 rowdy sheeters were bounded over and Rs 1.45 crore cash was seized. Drugs and alcohol worth Rs 10 lakhs were seized. A total of 55 FIRs were registered in 63 complaints, the administration said in a press release.
Anjani Kumar, Commissioner of Police, Hyderabad city while speaking on GHMC elections stated, "We have made all security arrangements with 22,000 policemen for GHMC elections. We have briefed the police personnel four times. We have set up tight police security in all areas as per State Election Commission guidelines."
GHMC polls 2020: LIVE Updates
8:05 am: Telangana Minister and TRS leader, KT Rama Rao casts his vote
Hyderabad: Telangana Minister and TRS leader, KT Rama Rao casts his vote for #GHMCElections2020 pic.twitter.com/XJi6c44Trs
— ANI (@ANI) December 1, 2020
8:00 am: AIMIM President Asaduddin Owaisi casts his vote. "I appeal to the people of Hyderabad to cast their vote today to strengthen democracy," he says.
#Hyderabad: AIMIM President Asaduddin Owaisi casts his vote for #GHMCElections2020
— ANI (@ANI) December 1, 2020
"I appeal to the people of Hyderabad to cast their vote today to strengthen democracy," he says. pic.twitter.com/srF8enqPTU
7:15 am: MoS (Home) G Kishan Reddy casts his vote for GHMC polls
Hyderabad, Telangana: MoS (Home) G Kishan Reddy casts his vote for #GHMCElections2020 https://t.co/GUxv5cSnCI pic.twitter.com/GtzKYHdiSK
— ANI (@ANI) December 1, 2020
